Portable light



March 17, 1 936. A. D. HOEFFLINGER PORTABLE LIGHT v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1934 INVENTOR.

# 7 54 ML 6 I HIS ATTORNEYS.

17, 1936 A. D. HOEFFLINGER 2,034,190

PORTABLE LIGHT Filed Jan. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sgeet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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HIS A TTORNEYJZ Patented Mar. 17, 1936 PORTABLE LIGHT 3 Claims.

My invention is an improvement in portable lamps or the like and relates more particularly to a portable electric light and support which are capable of universal use.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple, portable light which can be adjusted conveniently to obtain maximum light intensity where it is needed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portable light which may be operated from the house current wherein the lamp and reflector may be rotated 360 with respect to its support and may be adjusted in any selected position throughout the extent of its movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable lamp support which is not only capable of supporting the lamp upon a plane surface, but which may be slipped over the arm of the user for inspecting objects while walking, or which may be removably and adjustably mounted on a pedestal rod or the like.

A further object is to simplify the construction of such a device without limiting its usefulness or its appearance, thereby providing an inexpensive but durable product.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description of an embodiment thereof progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a device embodying my invention and shows in full lines the support extended to support the lamp on a plane or flat surface. In broken lines I have illustrated how the pivoted supporting members may be closed as in carrying the lamp over the arm;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the lamp socket and reflector mounting;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

igure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figin section as indicated by the line 99 of Figure 8.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a portable support comprising essentially a pair of relatively 5 movable braces l and 2 and a trunnion 3 mounted transversely of the braces and capable of being rotated thereon for a full 360.

The braces I and 2 may be formed of strip metal bent into substantially U-shape as shown, 1

the arms being apertured to receive the ends of the trunnion 3. The braces operate one within the other in telescopic fashion as shown by the broken lines in Figure 1. This enables the device to be carried over the arm of the user or it may the lamp on a flat surface, and by opening or closing the braces more or less the height of the lamp from the said surface may be adjusted.

The lamp 4, its socket 5 and the reflector and/ or shade B are supported for rotatable movement by means of a trunnion 3 rotatably supported atits ends 1 and 8 in the apertured ends of the braces.

The trunnion 3 consists essentially of a member which is preferably cast and which consists of a centrally disposed holder 9 and diametrically opposed arms Hi and H extending therefrom. The arms I0 and I! are preferably hollowed out as at l2 so that their cross section is substantially U-shaped as indicated in Figure 5. This construction not only results in economy of material and lighter weight but provides a channel through which the conductor l3 may pass. In threading the conductor l3 axially through the opening in the end 1 of the trunnion, it will be seen that rotation of the trunnion with the lamp and the cord '40 or conductor will not be hindered and that tendencies of the latter to tangle or twist are materially decreased.

The holder 9 is provided with diametrically.

opposite split flanges M and 15 through which the screws l6 may be threaded for drawing the same together and thereby clamping the socket 5 between the flanges.

The reflector and/or shade 6 may be of the 5 usual type and is provided at its rear end with a, centrally disposed cup-like portion I! which is adapted to fit into the depression l8 formed in the holder 9. Aligned openings ill in the holder 9, and 20 in the shade 6, are provided to accommodate screws 2| which are threaded into the holder 9, thereby to firmly clamp the shade and/or reflector in place.

In Figure 1 it will be noted that the corners 22 of the brace I are flattened or diagonally arranged to provide finger grips so that the braces may be separated readily after they have been closed as shown in broken lines in Figure 1. The operator grasps a corner of the brace 2 with the forefinger and thumb, the thumb press-ing against the diagonal portion 22 of the brace l thereby separating the braces. The brace is also provided with an upset portion 23 which may also serve as a means for readily operating the braces. However the upset portion 23 will likewise serve additional purposes which will be pointed out more fully hereinafter.

In assembling the trunnion in the braces, it will be seen that the end i of the trunnion is threaded and has a bore to accommodate the conductor l3. An arm of the inner brace slips over the end 1 and operates against the bearing surface of the abutment 24. Next a fibre disk spacer 25 is placed over the end 1 as is the aperture end of an arm of the outer brace 2. A nut 26 is then screwed over the threaded end I of the trunnion 3 and may be locked in place. The end 8 of the trunnion 3, while it is not shown as having an inner bore, may have one to accommodate a conductor if it is desired to put the conductor through this end of the trunnion. The opposite apertured arms of the braces I and 2 are assembled on the end 8 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the opposite ends of the trunnion, there being a fibre disk spacer 21 between the ends of the arms of the braces I and 2. A brass disk or washer 28 is next slipped over the end 8 of the trunnion, and acts as a friction washer to prevent the tension adjusting nut 29 from changing its adjustment after it has once been set. 30 is a spring lock washer of the usual type. The end 8 of the trunnion may be D- shaped in cross section as indicated at 3! in Figure 6 and, of course, the brass disk 28 will have an opening of corresponding cross sectional shape to prevent relative rotation of this disk on the end 8.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have illustrated my invention in use in connection with a modified means of support which may consist of a standard 3! having a piece 32. The standard or rod 3| is adapted to be seated within the upset portion 23 of the brace 2 and to engage with the inner surface of the cross piece 33 of the brace l. The rod is inserted between these members while the braces are slightly separated and when the proper vertical adjustment of the clamp is obtained, the braces are closed to the position shown in Figure 8, whereupon the cross members of the braces will be bowed slightly due to the insertion of the'rod 3|. It will be seen therefore that the entire unit may be quickly and easily adjusted vertically on the rod 3| and even after the braces are in closed position further vertical adjustment may be made by sliding the rodand braces relatively to each other. The pressure of the cross pieces of the braces against the rod when the braces are closed is sufficient to maintain the device in any selected vertical adjustment and at the same time to permit swinging adjustment throughout a horizontal plane.

While I have described several applications of my invention in use it is obvious that by means of the construction employed such as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the device is capable of many other uses. In Figure '7 the device is shown as supported on a floor or other fiat surface for concentrating a flood of light against the objects on which the mechanic is working and by means of the full rotating trunnion the mechanic may rotate the lamp to any other point.

The device illustrating one embodiment of my invention is characterized by simplicity of construction, durability and low cost of manufacture.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable light device, a base comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped members pivoted together at their ends to enable them to form a support when substantially separated and to telescope one within the other to provide a loop or handle for carrying the same, a hollow casting bridging the pivoted ends of said U-shaped mem bers and comprising oppositely disposed arms and an intermediate receptacle for a lamp socket andrefiector, one of said arms having an axial opening to receive a conductor, whereby the casting may be rotated without twisting the conductor and a source of light carried by said casting, sai-dcasting being adjustable throughout a full 360 of rotation in said U-shaped members.

2. In a portable light device, a base comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped members pivoted together at their ends to enable them to form a support when substantially separated and to telescope one within the other to provide a loop or handle for carrying the same, a member bridging the pivoted ends of said U-shaped members and formed with a socket therein for receiving a reflector and a source of light, one of said U-shaped members having a depression formed therein to form with an adjacent wall of the other U-shaped member, when telescoped, an

opening to adjustably receive a rod-like standard,

and a rod-like standard.

3. In a portable lamp, a pair of substantially U-shaped members pivoted together at their ends to enable them to form an adjustable support when separated and to telescope one within the other to provide a loop or handle for suspending the same, a lamp and reflector support bridging the pivoted ends of the said U-shaped members, said support comprising an intermediate portion recessed to receive a reflector and having an opening therethrough to receive a lamp socket, means for securing a socket and reflector therein, and supporting arms extending outwardly from said intermediate portion and having pivotal connection with said pivoted ends of the U- shaped members, said arms having grooves to receive a conductor to prevent twisting of the same when the bridging member is rotated up to or beyond 360.

AUSTIN D. HOEFFLINGER. 

